Nurse Corps
Loan Repayment Program
Fiscal Year 2024
Application and Program Guidance
January 30, 2024
Application Submission Deadline: March 7, 2024, 7:30 p.m. ET
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration
Bureau of Health Workforce
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, Maryland 20857
For questions, call
1-800-221-9393 (TTY: 1-877-897-9910) Monday through Friday (except
federal holidays) 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
Authority: Section 846 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 297n).
Assistance Listings Number: 93.908
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary..................................................................................................................... 3
Privacy Act Notification Statement .............................................................................................. 5
Nurse Corps Program Overview................................................................................................... 6
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN 2024 .......................................................................................................... 7
Application and Program Guidance ............................................................................................. 7
PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................... 8
UNDERSTANDING THE SERVICE OBLIGATION .................................................................................. 16
PROGRAM COMPLIANCE .............................................................................................................. 16
Application Information ............................................................................................................ 21
APPLICATION DEADLINE............................................................................................................... 21
COMPLETING AN APPLICATION ..................................................................................................... 22
CONFIRMATION OF INTEREST ....................................................................................................... 26
Additional Information ............................................................................................................. 30
Appendix: Glossary ................................................................................................................... 32
FY 2024 Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program APG ....................................................................... 32
3
Executive Summary
The Health Resources and Services Administration is accepting applications for the Nurse Corps Loan
Repayment Program. Loan repayment is available to Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice
Registered Nurses working in an eligible public or private Critical Shortage Facility, or nurse faculty
employed at an eligible school of nursing.
The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program will provide funds to participants to repay a portion of
their outstanding qualifying educational loans. This Application and Program Guidance provides
information regarding the application process, the commitment to serve at a Critical Shortage
Facility or school of nursing, and the financial, legal, and other consequences of failing to perform
the commitment if awarded under the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program.
Eligible
Disciplines
• Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses: Preference is given to
nurses based on the greatest financial need, their specialty and/or type of facility where
they are employed, and the mental health or primary care Health Professional Shortage
Area designation score.
• Nurse faculty: Preference is given to nurse faculty members with the greatest financial
need working at schools of nursing with at least 50% enrollment of students from a
disadvantaged background.
Funding
• Awarded participants will receive payments totaling 60% of their outstanding
qualifying educational loan balance incurred while pursuing an education in nursing in
exchange for a two-year service commitment.
• Qualifying participants may receive an additional 25% of their original loan balance
for an optional third year of service (via a Continuation Contract).
Service
Obligation
The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program offers two different contract service options –
a contract for serving as:
• a Registered Nurse or an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse at a Critical Shortage
Facility,
– OR –
• Nurse faculty at an eligible school of nursing.
Where
Participants
Serve
• Critical Shortage Facility: Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
are required to provide full-time service at a Critical Shortage Facility. A
Critical Shortage
Facility is a public or private health care facility located in, designated as, or serving a
primary care or mental health, Health Professional Shortage Area.
• Eligible School of Nursing: Nurse faculty are required to provide service at a for-profit
or non-profit public or private school of nursing, accredited by a national nursing or
state agency.
Application
Deadline
March 7, 2024, 7:30 p.m. ET
Tax Liability
The full loan repayment award is taxable.
4
Health Resources and Services
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Administration
Rockville, MD 20857
Bureau of Health Workforce
A Letter from Luis Padilla, MD
Dear Applicant,
Thank you for your consideration and time in applying to the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment
Program.
Since the 1980s, the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program has fulfilled its mission to connect a
highly qualified, diverse group of nurses to patients with limited access to health care. As we move
forward, we need nurses, like you, committed to serving communities in need of skilled nursing
professionals. In exchange, we will pay part of your qualifying nursing student loan debt for working
in a designated Critical Shortage Facilities or as faculty in a school of nursing.
As a clinician myself, I understand how busy you are. The Bureau of Health Workforce in the Heath
Resources and Services Administration operates multiple loan repayment programs
for health
professionals, and I encourage you to apply to what is appropriate for you.
Again, thank you for taking the time to read this Application and Program Guidance and for
considering applying to this or one of our other health professional loan repayment programs.
/Luis Padilla, MD/
Luis Padilla, MD
Associate Administrator, Bureau of Health Workforce
Health Resources and Services Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
5
Privacy Act Notification Statement
General
This information is provided pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-579), as
amended, for individuals supplying information for inclusion in a system of records.
Statutory Authority
Section 846 of the Public Health Service Act (42 USC § 297n), as amended.
Purposes and Uses
The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program assists in the recruitment and retention of
professional Registered Nurses, including Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, dedicated to
working in health care facilities with a critical shortage of nurses or working as nurse faculty in
eligible schools of nursing. In return for a commitment to work at eligible health care facilities
or schools of nursing, the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program will provide loan repayment
assistance to individuals who receive awards.
The information Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program applicants provide is used to evaluate
their eligibility, qualifications, and suitability for participation in the Nurse Corps Loan
Repayment Program. In addition, information from other sources is considered (e.g., credit
bureau reports and National Practitioner Data Bank reports).
Certain parts of an applicant’s application may also be disclosed outside the Department, as
permitted by the Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act, to the U.S. Congress, the
National Archives, the Government Accountability Office, and pursuant to court order and
various routine uses as described in the
System of Record Notice 09-15-0037
for Scholarship
and Loan Repayment Program Records. You will be notified if your information will be
shared.
Effec
ts of Nondisclosure
Disclosure of the information sought is voluntary; however, if not submitted, except for the
replies to questions related to race/ethnicity, an application may be considered incomplete and
therefore may not be considered for funding under the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program.
Non-Discrimination Policy Statement
In accordance with applicable federal laws and the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services policy, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services does not discriminate on
the basis of any non-merit factor, including race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity, disability (physical or mental), age, status as a parent, or genetic
information.
6
Nurse Corps Program Overview
Many communities across the country have a shortage of health care providers, including
nurs
es.
1
Nurse supply and demand are affected by many factors, including population
growth, aging populations, economic conditions, and an aging nursing workforce. The Nurse
Corps Loan Repayment Program helps address the needs for health care in these underserved
communities and supports the development of the nursing workforce for the future.
The Nurse Corps Loan
Repayment Program is authorized by Section 846 of the Public Health
Service Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 297n), and administered by the Bureau of Health Workforce
in the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program offers Registered Nurses and
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses financial assistance to repay qualifying educational loans
in exchange for full-time service either at a Critical Shortage Facility or an eligible school of
nursing.
Benefits of Participating in the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
Benefit
Description
Service Participants will meet the health care needs of underserved communities and will
ensure a strong and sustainable nursing workforce for the future.
Loan
Repayment
The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program will provide funds to participants to repay
a portion of their outstanding qualifying nursing educational loans.
• 60% of Total Qualifying Nursing Educational Loan Balance. For an initial two-
year service commitment, the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program will
award participants a total of 60% (30% each year) of their total outstanding
qualifying education loan balance. The time period in which the qualifying
education loans were incurred must coincide with the time period of the
applicant’s qualifying nursing education. All qualifying loans must have been
incurred prior to the application submission deadline.
• Optional Additional 25% of Total Qualifying Nursing Educational Loan
Balance. For an optional third year of service (via a Continuation Contract), the
Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program may award participants an additional
25% of their original total qualifying educational loan balance as of the
effective end date of their initial two-year contract. To be eligible for a
Continuation Contract, participants must be in full compliance with all
program requirements under their initial contract, including that they have
applied all of their previous loan repayment award to their approved student
loans. The Continuation Contract award is subject to the availability of funds.
1
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, National Center for
Health Workforce Analysis, 2017. National and Regional Supply and Demand Projections of the Nursing Workforce:
2014-2030. Rockville, Maryland.
7
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN 2024
For Fiscal Year 2024, we expect to make approximately 20 awards to new applicants and
approximately 1,200 awards to continuing applicants, based on the funding level requested in the
President’s FY 2024 Budget Request.
The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program will allocate funding to increase the supply of well-
trained nurses available to provide services, such as behavioral health, maternal health, and nurse
faculty, in communities experiencing a shortage in nurses or at eligible schools of nursing.
Application and Program Guidance
Please read this Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program Fiscal Year 2024 Application and Program
Guidance, referred to hereafter as Guidance, in its entirety before beginning an application. This
Guidance explains in detail the eligibility requirements, application, and award procedures, as well
as the incurred tax burden
2
and obligations of individuals selected to participate in the Nurse Corps
Loan Repayment Program. This Guidance provides information regarding the commitment to serve
at a Critical Shortage Facility or eligible school of nursing and the financial, legal, and other
consequences of failing to perform that commitment.
Individuals who are uncertain whether they can fulfill a two-year service commitment at an
approved Critical Shortage Facility or school of nursing should not apply. An applicant may withdraw
an application at any time prior to the Secretary of Health and Human Services or designee signing
the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program contract. After the Secretary or designee signs the
contract, the application cannot be withdrawn.
KEY DATES
Key dates for Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program applicants:
• Applications Open: January 30, 2024
• Application Submission Deadline: March 7, 2024
• Notification of Award: By September 30, 2024
Funding Allocations
Funds for the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program are used to make awards to qualified
applicants, which include Registered Nurses and Advance Practice Registered Nurses working
either in an eligible Critical Shortage Facility or as nurse faculty in an eligible school of nursing.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses include Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives,
Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists.
2
This explanation is not a substitute for tax advice from the Internal Revenue Service. Applicants should
seek advice from the Internal Revenue Service or a tax advisor.
8
The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program awards eligible applicants in each funding category,
described in the table below, in order of decreasing debt-to-salary ratio. All Nurse Corps Loan
Repayment Program contracts are subject to the availability of funds.
Category
Funding Allocation
Maternal health:
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurses with certifications in women’s
health (women’s health Nurse Practitioners)
• Certified Nurse Midwives
• Registered Nurses with certifications in obstetrics and gynecology
Up to $5 million set-
aside
Mental health
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
Up to 20% of
remaining funds
Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, including
Nurse Practitioners, at Primary Care Setting Critical Shortage Facilities
Up to 50% of
remaining funds
Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, including
Nurse Practitioners, at most hospitals or other Critical Shortage Facilities
Up to 20% of
remaining funds
Nurse faculty
Up to 10% of the
remaining funding
Service Options
The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program offers two different contract service options:
A contract for a Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program participant serving as:
• A Registered Nurse or an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse at a Critical Shortage
Facility.
• Nurse faculty at an eligible school of nursing.
Applicants may choose only one of these service options. Switching from one service option to
another is not allowed after initial selection. In an optional continuation contract, participants
must continue to provide service in the same service option as agreed to in the initial two-year
obligation.
PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible f
or a Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program Contract, all applicants must:
• Be a U.S. citizen (either U.S. born or naturalized), U.S. national, or lawful permanent
resident, and provide acceptable documentation of their status. See the Required
Supporting Documentation section for a list of acceptable documents.
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• Have earned a baccalaureate or associate degree in nursing (or equivalent degree), a
diploma in nursing, or graduate or doctorate degree in nursing, in addition to the
following specific requirements:
Discipline
and
Specialty
Education Requirements
Certification Requirements
Psychiatric
nurse
practitioners
Master’s or higher degree in
nursing accredited by the National
League for Nursing Accrediting
Commission or the Commission on
Collegiate Nursing Education.
A national Certification from the
American Nurses Credentialing
Center to practice as an Advanced
Practice Nurse in a behavioral or
mental health capacity.
Women’s
health nurse
practitioners
Master’s degree or higher degree
in a nursing program accredited by
the National League for Nursing
Accrediting Commission or the
Commission on Collegiate Nursing
Education.
Women’s Health Care Nurse
Practitioner certification from the
National Certification Corporation.
Obstetrics
and
gynecology -
certified
Registered
Nurses
Baccalaureate or associate degree
in nursing (or equivalent degree)
program accredited by the
National League for Nursing
Accrediting Commission or the
Commission on Collegiate Nursing
Education.
Obstetrics and Gynecology
certificate from the National
Certification Corporation or
American Nurse Credentialing
Center.
Certified
nurse
midwives
Master’s degree or higher from a
nurse-midwifery education
program accredited by the
Accreditation Commission for
Midwifery Education.
National certification by the
American Midwifery Certification
Board (formerly the American
College of Nurse Midwives
Certification Council)
• Have employment as a scheduled full-time Registered Nurse or Advance Practice
Registered Nurse working at least 32 hours per week at a public or private Critical
Shortage Facility or be employed as a full-time nurse faculty member at a public or
private eligible school of nursing. Hours worked in an as needed (PRN), per diem, or on-
call status do not qualify as part of the 32 hours per week.
• Have outstanding qualifying educational loans (defined below) incurred while seeking a
diploma or degree in nursing.
• Have completed a nursing degree program for which the loan balance applies.
• Have a current, full, permanent, unencumbered, unrestricted license to practice as a
Registered Nurse, or an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse if applicable, in the state
in which they intend to practice, or be authorized to practice in that state pursuant to
the Nurse Licensure Compact.
10
o Note: Applicants who intend to practice as federal employees, or employees of
a tribal health program in a state in which the tribal health program provides
services described in its contract/compact under the Indian Self-Determination
and Education Assistance Act, 25 U.S.C. 450 et seq. (e.g., Indian Health Service
health center), need only have a current, full, permanent, unencumbered,
unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Nurse, or an Advance Practice
Registered Nurse, in a state.
Puerto Rico Applicants Only: National Council Licensure Examination Exception – Nurses
practicing in Puerto Rico must have a current, full, permanent, unencumbered, unrestricted
license to practice as a Registered Nurse or an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in the
territory of Puerto Rico and must upload a copy of their current unrestricted nursing license and
certificate with their Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program application. Applicants working in
Puerto Rico are not required to pass the National Council Licensure Examination.
Applicants will be deemed ineligible if they:
• Have any judgment liens arising from a federal debt.
• Have defaulted on any federal payment obligations (e.g., Health Education Assistance
Loans, Nursing Student Loans, federal income tax liabilities, etc.) or non-federal
payment obligations (e.g., court-ordered child support payments). The Health
Resources and Services Administration will verify that the applicant has not defaulted
on any federal payment obligations by running a credit report that will be recorded
as a hard inquiry
3
, which is a formal review of the applicant’s credit history.
• Had any federal or non-federal debt written off as uncollectible or had any federal
service or payment obligation waived.
• Are currently excluded, debarred, suspended, or disqualified by a federal agency from
financial and nonfinancial assistance and benefits under federal programs and activities.
• Have defaulted on a prior service obligation to the federal, state, or local government,
unless the obligation was previously satisfied.
• Have previously participated in the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program, incurring a
two-year service obligation and receiving an award to repay 60% of the participant’s
total qualifying nursing educational loan balance, and if applicable, a third-year
continuation contract to repay an additional 25% of the participant’s total qualifying
nursing educational loan balance. Previous Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
participants can apply to the program again only for loans relating to a new nursing
degree.
• Have an existing service obligation that was not satisfied prior to the application
submission deadline (e.g., under the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment or
Scholarship Programs, the Nurse Corps Scholarship Program, the State Loan Repayment
3
According to the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, these inquiries “are typically inquiries by lenders after
you apply for credit. These inquiries will impact your credit score because most credit scoring models look at how
recently and how frequently you apply for credit. Please find additional information at
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/whats-a-credit-inquiry-en-1317/
11
Program, the Nurse Faculty Loan Program, the Faculty Loan Repayment Program, any
state-sponsored loan repayment/forgiveness programs, any employer-sponsored
scholarship or loan repayment programs, or active-duty military obligation).
Exception – Individuals in a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces including the
National Guard, are eligible to participate in the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment
Program.
4
• Are employed by nurse staffing agencies or travel nurse agencies.
• Work on an “as needed” basis even if working 32 or more hours in a week (this includes
PRNs, Pool Nurses, or registered nurses who are not scheduled in a full-time capacity,
as defined by Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program).
• Have a temporary, restricted, or inactive Registered Nurse license.
• Are self-employed.
• Work at a school of nursing not accredited by a national nursing accrediting agency or
state agency.
• Transfer to another eligible Critical Shortage Facility or eligible school of nursing after
submitting the application but prior to receiving an award. Participants must work at
the Critical Shortage Facility or school of nursing identified in their application to
receive an award.
National Practitioner Data Bank Report
A National Practitioner Data Bank report review will be part of the application process for all applicants if
the employing Critical Shortage Facility or school of nursing indicates any of the following on the
Employment Verification Form:
• A National Practitioner Data Bank re
port has never been obtained by the employing Critical
Shortage Facility or school of nursing for the applicant.
• More than 18 months passed since a National Practitioner Data Bank report was obtained
by the employing Critical Shortage Facility or school of nursing
for the applicant.
• Applicant’s National Practitioner Data Bank report on file with the employing Critical Shortage
Facility
or school of nursing contains adverse information.
4
Reservists should note the following:
a. Military training or service pe rfor med by reservists will not satisfy the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
obligation. If a participant has combined military training and service, or other absences from the Critical
Shortage Facility or school of nursing that will exceed seven weeks (regardless of how many days per week they
serve) per service year, the participant must request a suspension. Payments are stopped during periods of
active duty/suspension and will resume when the reservist returns to full-time service. The service obligation
end date will be extended by the length of the suspension to compensate for the break in service.
b. If the approved Critical Shortage Facility or school of nursing is unable to re-employ the reservist after
deployment, the individual is expected to complete the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program Contract at
another approved Critical Shortage Facility or eligible school of nursing. The reservist must contact the Nurse
Corps Loan Repayment Program to request a transfer and receive approval, in accordance with the program’s
transfer policy.
12
Eligible Facility Types
Facility
Description
Nurse Corps Loan
Repayment Program
Participants serving as a
Registered Nurse or an
Advanced Practice
Registered Nurse
A Registered Nurse or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
participant is required to provide full-time service at a Critical
Shortage Facility. The Critical Shortage Facility must be a public or
private health care facility located in, designated as, or serving a primary
care or mental health, Health Professional Shortage Area. Examples of
eligible health care facility types are listed below.
Nurse Corps Loan
Repayment Program
Participants serving as nurse
faculty
A nurse faculty member participant is required to provide full-time
service by teaching pre-licensure students, Registered Nurses, or
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, at an eligible for-profit or non-
profit public or private school of nursing. Nurse Corps Loan
Repayment Program considers a school of nursing eligible if it is
accredited by a national nursing accrediting agency or by a state
agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Nurse Corps
Loan Repayment Program considers institutions eligible if graduates
are authorized to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination-
Registered Nurse. Review the
list of the agencies recognized by the
Secretary of Education on the ED.gov website for purposes of
accrediting nurse education programs.
Eligible Critical Shortage Facilities
Primary Care Settings
• Federally Qualified Health Center
• Community mental health center
5
• Rural health clinic
• State or local health department
• Small rural hospital
6
• Outpatient facility
• American Indian health facility
• Home health agency
• School-based clinic
• Nurse managed health clinic/center
• Native Hawaiian health center
• Free and charitable clinic
5
Certified community behavioral health clinics are eligible under community mental health center.
6
Critical access hospitals are eligible under small rural hospital.
13
Hospitals and Other Critical Shortage Facilities
• Disproportionate share hospital
• Public hospital
• Private hospital
• Urgent care center
• Ambulatory surgical center
• End stage renal disease dialysis center
• Hospice program
• Residential nursing home
Multiple Sites
Applicants can work at multiple sites under a single employer or within the same network under
dependent satellite facilities. Each site must be a Critical Shortage Facility and meet all eligibility
requirements.
The points of contact for each site will be responsible for completing the employment
verifications. Applicants are prohibited from receiving service credit for work at other facilities
outside of the network of the single employer.
Requirements for School-Based Critical Shortage Facility
The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program requires Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice
Registered Nurses to be employed full-time at least 32 hours per week throughout the year,
including those employed by a school-based Critical Shortage Facility.
If the school-based Critical Shortage Facility is not open year-round, the participant may transfer
to an approved Critical Shortage Facility during months the school-based Critical Shortage Facility
is closed. Providers who work at school-based clinics that are not open year-round will not receive
service credit for any period of time they are not serving at an approved Critical Shortage Facility
(refer to Eligible Health Care Facility Types section) and must report these as absen
ces.
Telehealth
Participants will receive service credit when providing telehealth services in a manner consistent
with their service site’s telehealth policy.
Ineligible Employment Agencies and Facilities
• Clinic
s in prisons and correctional facilities.
• Nurse staffing agency/travel nurse agency.
If an applicant is unsure whether a health care facility fits into one of the Critical Shortage Facility
categories listed above, they may contact the health care facility’s business office or human
resources department. The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program makes the final determination
on whether a facility qualifies as a Critical Shortage Facility.
7
7
Applicants may access the Health Professional Shortage Area Find or call the HRSA Customer Care Center at 1-800-221-
9393 to determine site eligibility.
14
Selection Factors
Among eligible applicants, the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program determines awardees
based on the following selection factors:
• Funding preference is given to applicants with the greatest financial need defined as
those qualified applicants with the highest debt-to-salary ratio. Debt-to-salary ratio is
determined by the total qualifying education loan balance divided by the base annual
salary.
Funding Preference Tier
For Registered Nurses
and Advanced Practice
Registered Nurses
Debt-to-Salary Ratio
Critical Shortage Facility
Primary Care or Mental Health
Health Professional
Shortage Area Score
Tier 1
≥100%
25-14
Tier 2
<100%
25-14
Tier 3
≥100%
13-0
Tier 4
<100%
13-0
• Funding preference for nurse faculty applicants working at schools of nursing is given to
applicants with the greatest financial need as described in the table below:
Funding
Preference Tiers
Debt-to-Salary
Ratio
Schools of Nursing
Tier 1
≥100%
Schools of nursing with at least 50% of
students from a disadvantaged background
Tier 2
≥100%
All other schools of nursing
Tier 3
<100%
Schools of nursing with at least 50% of
students from a disadvantaged background
Tier 4
<100%
All other schools of nursing
See the Appendix for a glossary of terms to determine whether nursing students are from a
disadvantaged background. The nurse faculty applicant is responsible for ensuring that the point of
contact at the school of nursing submits the signed and completed Certification of Disadvantaged
Background form.
15
Qualifying and Non-Qualifying Educational Loans
Qualifying Educational Loans: Include government loans and private (commercial) loans for
actual costs paid for tuition and reasonable educational expenses and living expenses incurred:
• While attending a school of nursing where the applicant obtained a nursing education.
• While taking prerequisite courses at schools other than the school(s) of nursing where
the applicant received academic credit for those courses and did not obtain a non-
nursing degree. If a non-nursing degree was obtained, all loans for prerequisite courses
are ineligible for funding.
• Participants will only receive repayment of outstanding qualifying educational loans that
have a current balance.
Non-Qualifying Loans: Include but not limited to:
• Loans for which the applicant incurred a service obligation that will not be satisfied by
the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program application deadline.
• Loans obtained for training in vocational or practical nursing.
• Loans obtained from family members, from private institutions, lenders, or other
entities that are not subject to federal or state examination and supervision as lenders.
• If an applicant’s qualifying educational loan is consolidated/refinanced with ineligible
non-qualifying debt (such as loans obtained for non-nursing degrees) or loans of another
individual, the entire consolidated/refinanced loan is ineligible.
• Parent PLUS lo
ans (and ALL loans made to parents).
• Credit card debt or personal lines of credit.
• Perkins Loans (unless the applicant can provide documentation as indicated in the
instructions for supporting documents that such loans are not subject to cancellation).
• Nursing Student Loans and Nurse Faculty Loan Program loans that are subject to
cancellation.
• Loans obtained for non-nursing degrees.
• Loans that are paid in full.
Consolidated Educational Loans
An applicant may apply to the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program if they have consolidated or
refinanced loans from a government (federal, state, or local) or private commercial lender. The
consolidated or refinanced loans must include only the qualifying nurse educational loans of the
applicant in order to be eligible for loan repayment assistance. These loans must be consolidated
or refinanced before the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program application deadline and the
individual must submit the loan documentation for the consolidated or refinanced loans as part
of the online application. If the loan documentation is not included with the application by the
deadline, the consolidated or refinanced loan(s) will not be considered for loan repayment. The
original loan dates for the consolidated or refinanced loans must coincide with the time period of
the applicant’s qualifying nursing education.
16
UNDERSTANDING THE SERVICE OBLIGATION
General Requirements for All Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program Participants:
• To receive service credit during the two-year service obligation under the Nurse Corps
Loan Repayment Program contract, participants must retain a current, full, permanent,
unencumbered, unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Nurse, or an Advanced
Practice Registered Nurse if applicable, in the state in which they intend to practice, or
be authorized to practice in that state pursuant to the Nurse Licensure Compact; or if
working in a federal facility, retain a current, full, permanent, unencumbered,
unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse, or an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse if
applicable, in a state.
• Participants must continue to work under the employer’s verified scope of practice as a
Registered Nurse, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, or a nurse faculty member for
the duration of the two-year contract to receive service credit under the Nurse Corps
Loan Repayment Program contract.
• Service credit will not be given for employment prior to the effective date of the Nurse
Corps Loan Repayment Program contract. The effective date of the contract is the date it
is countersigned by the Secretary of Health and Human Services or designee.
• Service credit will not be given for postgraduate residency/training programs.
• If an individual fails to commence full-time service on the effective date of the contract
at the Critical Shortage Facility or eligible school of nursing identified in the application,
the individual may be placed in default.
• After an individual applies and is awarded a contract for a particular service option at a
Critical Shortage Facility or school of nursing, the individual cannot switch to the other
type of service option during either the initial 2-year service period or the optional 1-
year continuation contract (if awarded).
Service Obligation Life Cycle
Participants must provide full-time service for a period of two years at their approved site. For
this purpose, “full-time” means at least 32 hours per week for a minimum of 45 weeks per
service year at an eligible Critical Shortage Facility, or full-time as defined by the employer for a
minimum of nine months per service year at an eligible school of nursing. Participants cannot
complete the two-year service obligation through part-time service.
PROGRAM
COMPLIANCE
Customer Service Portal
After an applicant is selected for an award, the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program provides
the applicant with information for logging into the Bureau of Health W
orkforce Customer Service
Portal. This web-based system will allow Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program applicants to
communicate with Nurse Corps program staff and manage customer service inquiries, such as
contact information changes.
17
Worksite Absences
No more than seven weeks (regardless of how many days per week served) per service year
under the contract may be spent away from the Critical Shortage Facility or eligible school of
nursing. Any leave/absences totaling greater than seven weeks (approximately 35 workdays) in a
service year will extend the contract end date. Participants who anticipate an absence from
their site for more than seven weeks must seek a suspension of their service obligation date (see
the Suspensions & Waivers section).
Service Verification
Participants are required to verify that they are in compliance with the service requirements
every six months. The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program will contact the participant to verify
compliance with the service obligation every six months. By completing and signing the In-Service
Verification
8
, the participant and the point of contact are certifying the participant’s compliance
with the full-time service requirements during the identified period. The In-Service Verification
records the total number of full-time workdays that a participant was absent, for any reason, from
the Critical Shortage Facility or school of nursing during the reporting period.
Participants and their site point of contact must complete the In-Service Verification within 30 days
of notification and submit it through the Bureau of Health Workforce Customer Service Portal.
An overdue In-Service Verification may prevent a participant from receiving service credit, delay
or stop monthly payments, or lead to a recommendation for default. An overdue In-Service
Verification for a reporting period under the initial two-year contract may also impact eligibility for a
future Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program Continuation Contract.
Professional Group/Group Practice In-Service Verification Requirements
All Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses employed by a professional
group must have the In-Service Verification completed by the point of contact at the eligible Critical
Shortage Facility where they are physically present and working, and not by an employee of the
Professional Group.
Leaving an Approved Service Site Prior to Completion of the Service Obligation
If a participant stops working at the approved Critical Shortage Facility or school of nursing
without prior written approval of the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program, the individual may
be placed in default of the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program contract, and all payments will
be suspended until a request to resume service at an eligible Critical Shortage Facility or school of
nursing is approved. If a participant is terminated for cause, they may be recommended for
default.
8
An In-Service Verification is different from an Employment Verification Form. An Employment Verification Form is
submitted at the time of the application via the Bureau of Health Workforce Customer Service Portal and is used to
verify that an applicant meets the service requirements at a Critical Shortage Facility or school of nursing. The In-Service
Verification is used to verify the participant’s continued compliance with the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
service obligation after award and throughout the two-year contract. The Employment Verification Form and the In-
Service Verification must be completed by the point of contact or an authorized official.
18
Transfer Request to Another Approved Service Site
The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program expects that participants will fulfill their service
obligation at the initial Critical Shortage Facility or eligible school of nursing on their application.
However, the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program understands that circumstances may arise that
result in a participant’s need to leave the initial Critical Shortage Facility or eligible school of nursing
and complete the service obligation at another approved facility. If a participant can no longer
continue working at the initial Critical Shortage Facility or eligible school of nursing, the participant
must immediately contact the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program through the
Bureau of Health
Workforce Customer Service Portal.
Detailed instructions on how to complete a Change My Site Request are provided in the Bureau of
Health Workforce Customer Service Portal. To request a transfer to another site via the Bureau of
Health Workforce Customer Service Portal, go to the Activities section, then to Change My Site
Request. The request must include the reason for the transfer and initiation of an Employment
Verification Form to the prospective site to determine whether the position is eligible and if the site
is an eligible Critical Shortage Facility or eligible school of nursing. All transfers require prior
approval.
Part
icipants must transfer to an approved Critical Shortage Facility or approved school of nursing
site with a designated site point of contact that has an active Bureau of Health Workforce Customer
Service Portal account. That site point of contact must be willing and able to complete all electronic
verifications, including Employment Verifications and In-Service Verifications, through the portal.
Please see the Eligible Facility Types section for additional information on eligible facilities.
• Part
icipants must continue to meet the eligibility requirements and service obligation
requirements at their prospective transfer site. Provide service in the same service option
as awarded. If awarded as a Registered Nurse or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse,
participants cannot serve as a Nurse Faculty. If awarded as a Nurse Faculty, participants
cannot serve as a Registered Nurse or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.
• Depending on the service option, have employment as a scheduled full-time Registered
Nurse or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse working at least 32 hours per week or be
employed as a full-time nurse faculty member at an eligible school of nursing.
o Participants cannot be employed by a nurse staffing agency or travel nurse agency.
o Participants cannot be self-employed.
o Participants must have a set schedule of at least 32 hours per week as a full-time
registered nurse or advanced practice registered nurse. Hours worked in part-time
service, as needed, or on-call status may not qualify as part of the 32 hours per week.
• Have a current, full, permanent, unencumbered, unrestricted license to practice as a
Registered Nurse or an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in the state in which they
intend to practice, except if working as a federal employee or for a tribal health program.
The participant is not
ified via the Bureau of Health Workforce Customer Service Portal of the
decision regarding the transfer request. If approved, the participant can resume full-time
service at the approved transfer Critical Shortage Facility or school of nursing.
19
Transfer Impact on Service Obligation and Payment
If there is a 30-day or less break in service between the stop-work date at the initial/former service
site and the start date at the approved transfer site, the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
payments will not be interrupted. However, if the participant fails to resume service within 30 days
of the stop-work date at the initial/former Critical Shortage Facility or school of nursing, the Nurse
Corps Loan Repayment Program will stop all payments. After the participant begins full-time service
at another approved Critical Shortage Facility or eligible school of nursing, the Nurse Corps Loan
Repayment Program service end date will be extended, and the loan repayments will resume.
Unemployment During the Service Obligation
Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program participants who resign or are terminated from their initial
Critical Shortage Facility or school of nursing must contact the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment
Program immediately through the Bureau of Health Workforce Customer Service Portal
. Nurse
Corps Loan Repayment Program participants who are not working at an eligible Critical Shortage
Facility or school of nursing will experience an immediate suspension of monthly payments until
they return to service at an eligible Critical Shortage Facility or school of nursing. The Nurse Corps
Loan Repayment Program will provide the participant a specific period of time to obtain an offer
and accept a position at an approved Critical Shortage Facility or school of nursing. It is the
participant’s responsibility to obtain employment at an eligible Critical Shortage Facility or school
of nursing. Participants who do not secure employment at an eligible Critical Shortage Facility or
school of nursing within the allotted time provided by the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
will be recommended for default.
Bre
aching the Contract
Participants are encouraged to immediately contact the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program if a
situation arises in which they are potentially unable to fulfill the service obligation. A participant
who enters a two-year Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program contract but fails to begin or
complete the service obligation is liable to repay all the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
payments received. This includes the amounts withheld for federal taxes plus interest at the
maximum legal prevailing rate, from the date of the breach of the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment
Program contract.
Under the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program, any debt owed to the federal government is
due within three years of the participant’s breach. For delinquent or past-due debts, other
charges and penalties may apply. Additionally, breach of the contract may permanently
disqualify an individual from receiving future awards under the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment
Program and other Health Resources and Services Administration and federal programs.
Suspensions and Waivers
The Secretary of Health and Human Services or designee may, under certain circumstances, suspend
or waive the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program service or payment obligation. A written
request for a suspension or waiver must be submitted through the
Bureau of Health Workforce
Customer Service Portal. Additional supporting documentation demonstrating a compelling
circumstance is required in order to process such a request.
20
• Suspension: A mechanism that provides temporary relief to a Nurse Corps Loan
Repayment Program participant who has a short-term circumstance that currently
makes compliance with the obligation impossible or would involve extreme hardship
to the participant such that enforcement of the obligation would be unconscionable.
Periods of approved suspension will extend a participant’s Nurse Corps Loan
Repayment Program service obligation end date. Categories of service suspensions
include:
• Medical or Personal Reasons: A suspension may be granted for up to one year
if the participant provides independent medical documentation of a physical or
mental health disability, or personal circumstances, including a terminal or
debilitating illness of an immediate family member, which results in the
participant’s temporary inability to perform the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment
Program obligation. Upon receipt of the written suspension request, the Nurse
Corps Loan Repayment Program will notify the participant of the instructions
for submitting further supporting documentation.
• Maternity/Paternity/Adoption Leave: Maternity/paternity/adoption leave will
be approved by the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program upon request if
adequately documented in the
Bureau of Health Workforce Cus
tomer Service
Portal. If a participant plans to be away from their approved service site for
maternity/paternity/adoption leave, they are required to submit their
Suspension request through the Bureau of Health Workforce Customer Service
Portal before taking leave. Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program will allow
participants to be away from their service site within the timeframes
established by either the Family Medical Leave Act (up to 12 weeks) or for a
longer period as permitted under state law where the participant resides,
consistent with the leave policies of the employer. If a participant plans to take
leave beyond the allowed maternity/ paternity/adoption leave period, they are
required to contact the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program for guidance.
As a
reminder, a participant may be away from the Nurse Corps Loan
Repayment Program approved service site for no more than seven weeks per
service year; therefore, after a suspension, a participant’s obligation end date
will be extended for each day of a Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program-
approved absence over the allowable seven weeks.
• Call to active duty in the U.S. armed forces: A participant who is also a military
reservist when called to active duty will be granted a suspension for up to one
year, which may be extended, beginning on the activation date described in the
reservist’s call to active-duty order. In addition to the written request for
suspension, a copy of the order to active duty must be submitted to the Nurse
Corps Loan Repayment Program. Upon receipt of the written request, the
suspension will be extended if the participant’s period of active duty is
extended. The period of active military duty service will not be credited towards
21
the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program service obligation unless otherwise
indicated by the Health Resources and Services Administration.
• Waiver: A mechanism that permanently relieves the participant of all or part of the Nurse
Corps Loan Repayment Program service obligation. A waiver may be granted when
compliance with the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program obligation (a) is impossible,
or (b) would involve extreme hardship and enforcement would be unconscionable.
Compliance would be impossible if a participant documents that they suffer from a
physical or mental disability that results in their permanent inability to serve their
obligation or to be gainfully employed in any capacity and pay their debt. The request
must be submitted in writing to the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program and must
specify the reason(s) the waiver is being sought. The participant will be contacted directly
by the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program regarding the medical and financial
documentation necessary to process the waiver request. Waivers are not routinely
granted and require a demonstration of compelling circumstances as described above.
Cancellation of a Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program Obligation
A participant’s Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program obligation is cancelled in its entirety in the
unfortunate event of the participant’s death. No liability is transferred to the participant’s heirs.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Participants whose loans are forgiven through the U.S. Department of Education’s Public Service
Loan Forgiveness Program and who no longer have outstanding qualifying educational loans must
immediately contact the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program for further instructions. Failure to
promptly contact the Nurse Loan Repayment Program may result in an overpayment debt to the
federal government and associated charges.
Application Information
APPLICATION DEADLINE
A complete Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program online application with all required supporting
documentation must be uploaded and submitted by the application deadline March 7, 2024, 7:30
p.m. ET. All decisions regarding Fiscal Year 2024 Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
applications will be made by September 30, 2024.
22
COMPLETING AN APPLIC
ATION
Application Information
The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program application consists of:
• An online application.
• Required supporting documentation.
• Additional supporting documentation (if applicable).
Applicants are advised to keep a copy of the complete application package for their records. The
informa
tion in the online application must match the submitted supporting documentation. After
the applicant submits the application, the individual will receive a notification stating, “Overall
application status is submitted – eligible or ineligible” and an “Application ID number” for their
reference.
Edited Applications, Missing, and Incomplete Documents
Applications will be considered incomplete and deemed ineligible if there are missing or illegible
documents or incomplete application materials. Applicants may reopen and edit their applications
after submission but before the deadline.
If an applicant reopened the application for editing, the applicant must resubmit the edited
application prior to the deadline of March 7, 2024, 7:30 p.m. ET. Failure to resubmit the application
will make the applicant ineligible. After the application is resubmitted, the applicant will receive a
notification stating, “Overall application status is submitted – eligible or ineligible” and an
“Application ID number” for their reference.
The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program will not accept requests to update or make any changes
to a submitted application after the deadline. In addition, the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment
Program staff will not contact applicants, fill in or make changes to information on the submitted
application, or fill in any missing information. If a document cannot be viewed or accessed, that
document will not be considered and may cause the entire application to be deemed ineligible.
If an applicant transfers to a different service site after the submission of the application and prior
to a signed Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program contract, their application will be deemed
ineligible for an award.
Documents: Applicants are strongly encouraged to upload all supporting documents in a PDF
format to expedite processing of the application. A multipage document should be consolidated
into one document before uploading. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the
information uploaded is accurate and viewable; PDF format allows applicants
to view documents
prior to submission. When uploading documents to the online application, be sure that the
documents do not exceed 5MB, as the system restricts larger documents to maintain storage.
23
ONLINE APPLICATION
Applicants are required to complete each of the sections listed below:
• Eligibility
• General Information
• Employment
• Employment Verification
• Education
• Loan Information
• Supporting Documents
• Self-Certification
• Review and Submit
REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Each document submitted must include the applicant’s First and Last Name.
a) Proof of U.S. citizenship, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident
Acceptable documents: A U.S. birth certificate, an unexpired U.S. passport ID
page or U.S. passport card, a Certificate of Citizenship, a Naturalization
Certificate, or a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card).
Unacceptable Documents: A state driver’s license, nursing license, Social
Security card, or state ID are not acceptable proof of U.S. citizenship or
permanent residency.
b) Authorization to Release Information: Applicants must download the
Authorization to Release Information form from the online application.
Applicants must fill out, sign, and upload the form to the application. The
signature may be handwritten or an electronic signature. Electronic
signatures that contain a date stamp or require a PIN to place the signature
on the form are acceptable. Also, signatures signed with a stylus are
acceptable. Electronic signatures that are typed only are not acceptable.
c) Transcripts: Applicants must submit all transcript(s) from each college,
university, or school of nursing attended for all nursing education coursework
directly related to the attainment of the nursing degree(s), if the applicant is
seeking repayment for educational loans incurred while attending that
institution. Disbursement dates of nursing loans must correspond with dates of
enrollment in nursing school. Unofficial and official transcripts are acceptable.
d) Curriculum Vitae/Résumé: Applicants must submit a current curriculum vitae
or résumé, which documents all education, training, dates of all degrees
conferred, and a complete employment history including an explanation for
any gaps in employment since the applicant’s completion of the qualifying
nursing education.
e) Employee Verification Form: Applicants are required to review and verify the
name and address of the current Critical Shortage Facility or eligible school of
nursing and initiate an electronic Employment Verification Form. The
Employment Verification Form must be completed by the appropriate official
24
or authorized point of contact at the Critical Shortage Facility or school of
nursing. The point of contact should be the applicant’s immediate supervisor
or an authorized agent of the human resources department at the service
site. If the point of contact does not submit a completed Employment
Verification Form, or it is not completed by the appropriate official, the
application is considered ineligible.
f) Loan Documents: Review the types of loans that qualify and do not qualify
for repayment under the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (see the
Qualifying and Non-Qualifying Loans
section). If an applicant has multiple
loans with the same servicing lender, each loan must be separately listed, and
must include the original amount of the loan, the disbursement date, and the
current balance. Supporting loan documentation must be provided for each
loan (please see the sub-bullets below for the documentation needed and
where to obtain). The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program will check the
applicant’s credit report to determine loan eligibility, loan balances, and
repayment history status. All loan documents should include the applicant’s
name and other identifiable information including account numbers.
1. Federal Loans: Note: federal loans can be electronically imported from
the Department of Education Federal Student Aid website or added
manually to the application.
a. To import federal loans electronically, applicants will need to
have a Federal Student Aid ID and password to access the
National Student Loan Data System
website and the applicant’s
My Student Data file.
i. Applicants who import loan information
electronically do not need any other documentation.
b. To add federal loans manually, applicants will need the following
information:
i. Disbursement Report(s) from the lender, showing
the loan type, original loan amount, and original
loan date, as well as the applicant’s name and
account numbers. You may need to submit more
than one type of Disbursement Report per loan to
meet these requirements. Applicants may find this
information in the
National Student Loan Data
System website under the “My Student Data” file
or on their specific federal loan servicer website;
ii. The most recent Account Statement for each loan
showing the current balance, lender’s name,
account number, and applicant’s name.
25
2. Individual Private (Commercial) Loans: You may call or visit the
lender’s website to obtain:
a. Disbursement report(s) from the lender, showing the loan type,
original loan amount, and original loan date, as well as the
applicant’s name and account numbers. You may need to submit
more than one type of Disbursement Report per loan to meet
these requirements.
b. The most recent Account Statement for each loan showing the
current balance, lender’s name, account number, and applicant’s
name.
3. Consolidated Private (Commercial) Loans: You may call or visit the
lender’s website to obtain:
a. Disbursement report(s) clearly showing that all the loans that
were consolidated had the applicant’s name on the loan
documentation.
b. The most recent Account Statement for the consolidation showing
the current balance, lender’s name, account number, and
applicant’s name (call or visit the lender’s website).
c. Original loan application document.
d. Please note that you may also submit a letter directly from the
lender containing the required loan information if you do not
have the original disbursement report or the account statement.
e. Please note that each loan must have its original loan amount and
the original loan date indicated.
4. Perkins Loans: You may call or visit the lender’s website to obtain:
a. Disbursement report(s) from the lender must show the applicant’s
name, loan type, original loan amount, and original loan date. You
may need to submit more than one type of disbursement report
per loan to meet these requirements.
b. The most recent account statement for the consolidation showing
the current balance, lender’s name, account number, and
applicant’s name.
c. Documentation from the school showing that the loans are not
subject to cancellation under 34 CFR Part 674; OR documentation
from the current lender indicating that the Perkins Loans were
consolidated and not paid off. Documentation should be from the
business or student loan office of the school that made the loan.
d. Perkins Loans that are subject to cancellation are not eligible.
g) Disadvantaged Background Document (For Nurse Faculty applicants only): To
be eligible for a funding priority, Nurse Faculty applicants must submit
documentation signed by the point of contact or an authorized school official
certifying that at least 50% of students enrolled in the school come from a
disadvantaged background.
26
1) ADDITIONAL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION (if applicable)
Based on the applicant’s responses to the online application, additional clarifying
documents may be required for submission.
Examples of additional documentation that may be required include:
a. Name changes require submission of:
i. Marriage license; or
ii. Divorce decree; or
iii. Official court document.
b. Perkins Loans require submission of:
i. Official letter from the lender or school loan office that made the loan
demonstrating the loan is not cancellable.
c. Maternal Health applicants are required to submit the following:
i. Women’s Healthcare Nurse Practitioner certification from the National
Certification Corporation; or
ii. Certification in Obstetrics and Gynecology specialties from the
National Certification Corporation and/or American Nurses
Credentialing Center.
d. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners are required to submit Certification from the
American Nurses Credentialing Center to practice as an Advanced Practice
Registered Nurse in a behavioral health capacity.
e. Applicants who are members of a reserve component of the U.S. armed
forces, including the National Guard, who are called to active duty must
submit documentation to verify their existing active-duty service obligation
.
CONFIRMATION OF INTEREST
The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program will notify award finalists of their status by a
Confirmation of Interest email, which will instruct them to log into their application account in the
Bureau of Health Workforce Customer Service Portal to confirm their continued interest in receiving
an award and to confirm that the loan and employment information provided to Health Resources
and Service Administration on their Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program application remains
valid. The Confirmation of Interest will also include instructions to sign and return the Nurse Corps
Loan Repayment Program contract and to provide banking information in order to facilitate the
electronic transfer of the award funds in the event that their contract is approved and signed by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services (or designee) and funds are awarded.
The electronic signature on the contract has the effect of a handwritten signature, and after
countersigned by the Secretary of Health and Human Services or designee, obligates the applicant
27
to a Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program service commitment. If the applicant does not respond
to the Confirmation of Interest email by the deadline, the applicant is no longer considered for
participation in the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program and their application is closed. Applicants
who no longer wish to receive a Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program award can log into their
Bureau of Health Workforce Customer Service Portal account and check the “decline” box on the
Confirmation of Interest. If an applicant fails to respond by the deadline or declines the
Confirmation of Interest through the Portal, the award will be offered to another applicant. A
decision to decline the award is final and cannot be revoked under any circumstance. The
Confirmation of Interest is not a guarantee that the individual will receive an award, as funding
depends on appropriations by Congress.
If an i
ndividual selected for an award decides not to accept the award after signing the contract,
the individual should notify the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program immediately through the
Bureau of Health Workforce Customer Service Portal:
•
If the Secretary or designee has not yet countersigned the contract, the individual will
not incur a service obligation or any liability for withdrawing.
•
If the Secretary or designee has already signed the contract, the individual has a binding
contract to complete the service obligation. Withdrawing from the program without
incurring liability is not an option.
If an applicant fails to commence service on the effective date of the contract, the applicant is in
breach of the contract, may be placed in default, and may be disqualified from receiving future awards
under the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program and other federal programs.
RECEIVING AN AWARD AND OBLIGATIONS
If a participant is selected for a Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program award, the date the Secretary
of Health and Human Services or designee countersigns the contract becomes the effective date of
the contract, and the two-year service obligation commences on that date. The individual will begin
to accrue service credit under the contract as soon as it becomes effective. Nurse Corps Loan
Repayment Program will send participants a notice instructing them to access the following
documents in the Bureau of Health Workforce Customer Service Portal
:
• Award Letter
• Welcome Packet
• Participant Award Worksheet
Award payments are made monthly over 24 months through an electronic funds transfer to the
participant’s checking or savings account via the bank routing number identified on the banking
information submitted by the participant. The first payment will be deposited approximately 60
days after the effective date of the contract. Participants must keep all banking information up to
date to receive payments on schedule.
28
Participants must use all Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program payments received to pay the
lenders or holders of their qualifying educational loans, even if the loans are paused or in
forbearance. The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program may contact the participant’s lenders or
holders to verify that award payments were applied to reduce qualifying loan balances. To receive a
continuation contract, participants must be in full compliance with all program requirements under
their initial contract, including that they have applied all of their previous loan repayment award to
their qualifying student loans, as listed on their Participant Authorization Worksheet.
NOTE: Participants whose loans are forgiven through the U.S. Department of Education’s Public
Service Loan Forgiveness Program and who no longer have outstanding qualifying educational loans
must immediately contact the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program for further instructions.
Failure to promptly contact the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program may result in an
overpayment debt to the federal government and associated charges.
If a participant does not receive a scheduled payment, they may contact the Nurse Corps Loan
Repayment Program through the Bureau of Health Workforce Customer Service Portal
or Customer
Care Center at 1-800-221-9393. If the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program has any questions
concerning a participant’s eligibility for continued payments, the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment
Program will delay payments pending verification of the participant’s compliance with the service
obligation or outstanding qualifying loan balances. Participants must immediately notify the Nurse
Corps Loan Repayment Program of any changes in their service site or employment status.
TAXE
S AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program payments are subject to federal taxes. The Nurse Corps Loan
Repayment Program will withhold federal income tax and Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax
(Social Security and Medicare) from a participant’s award. Taxes are paid directly to the Internal
Revenue Service on the participant’s behalf. All Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program payments
and federal taxes withheld are reported to the participant and the Internal Revenue Service on a
Form W-2 after the end of the tax year. Nurse Corps Loan repayment payments may also be subject
to state and local income taxes.
Participants who want additional funds withheld to cover the income tax on their awards should
indicate the amount to be deducted on an Employee’s Withholding Certificate (Form W- 4).
Participants must complete and upload the Internal Revenue Service Form W-4, Employee's
Withholding Certificate. Participants should consult the Internal Revenue Service regarding any
additional tax obligations. All tax questions should be directed to a tax professional or the
Internal
Revenue Service website or through the TAX HELPLINE at 1-800-829-1040. The Internal Revenue
Service Withholding Calculator is available to perform a quick “paycheck checkup.” The Nurse Corps
Loan Repayment Program is unable to provide an individual with an after-tax calculation or any tax
advice or information.
29
Each January, participants will receive a W-2 Wage and Tax Statement for the taxable income
received under the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program during the prior tax year. Participants
may sign up to have their W-2 form posted in their Bureau of Health Workforce Customer Service
Portal account. W-2 forms are posted no later than January 30 of each year. If the W-2 form is not
available by that date, the participant should submit an inquiry via the Bureau of Health Workforce
Customer Service Portal. Participants may also choose to have their W-2 form mailed to the address
provided in the Bureau of Health Workforce Customer Service Portal. Participants must ensure their
name, mailing address, email address, and banking information are up to date.
Under
the Treasury Offset Program, the U.S. Treasury Department is authorized to offset the Nurse
Corps Loan Repayment Program payments for delinquent federal and state debts, including
delinquent child support.
30
Additional Information
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT
The purpose of this information collection is to obtain information through the Nurse Corps
Loan Repayment Program that is used to assess a Loan Repayment Program applicant’s
eligibility and qualifications for the Loan Repayment Program and to monitor a participant’s
compliance with the program’s service requirements. Clinicians interested in participating in
the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program must submit an application to the Nurse Corps. An
agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control number
for this information collection is 0915-0140 and it is valid until 2/28/2026. Public reporting
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.68 hours per response,
including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, and completing
and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or
any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this
burden, to HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 14N136B, Rockville,
Maryland, 20857.
RESOURCES FOR APPLI
CANTS
Definitions
See the Appendix for a glossary of terms, which contains the general definitions for Bureau of
Health Workforce terms used throughout this Guidance.
Healt
h Workforce Connector
The Health Workforce Connector contains a searchable database for all Nurse Corps Loan
Repayment Program-approved service sites, including those with current job openings.
Participants should contact the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program if they are interested
in transferring to a site listed on the Health Workforce Connector to confirm its eligibility.
Health
Professional Shortage Area Find
All Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program participants must serve in a federally designated
primary care or mental Health Professional Shortage Area. Health Professional Shortage Area
Find allows applicants to locate shortage areas by address. Note that Health Professional
Shortage Area Find cannot search using post office box addresses.
Customer Care Center
Any individual with questions about the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program may
contact the Customer Care Center Monday through Friday (except federal holidays), 8 a.m.
to 8 p.m. ET.
• 1-800-221-9393 (TTY: 1-877-897-9910)
31
Bureau of Health Workforce Customer Service Portal
The Bureau of Health Workforce Customer Service Portal is a web-based system that allows
Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program participants to make inquiries and requests (e.g.,
suspensions, transfers, waivers) and to access the six-month In-Service Verification. Once an
applicant is selected for an award, the individual is provided with instructions for updating
their account as a participant.
Nurs
e Corps Social Media
• Nurse Corps Facebook
• Nurse Corps LinkedIn
NOTE: Announcements and information posted by the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
on social media sites are informal and unofficial communications. Official program policies and
requirements are set forth in this Application and Program Guidance, the applicable contract,
on the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program website, and through other communications
provided to the participant via the Bureau of Health Workforce Customer Service Portal.
